On a Whim

From my perspective: happiness looks like — Day 9 of the Writing Challenge

I found an almond heart today.

When we think of happiness, we often think of things that are outside of ourselves- a new car, a raise at work, a successful relationship. But what about the small, everyday moments that can bring us joy?

I was reminded of this recently when I found a heart-shaped almond while eating a handful of nuts. It was such a simple pleasure, but it made me so happy at that moment.

I thought,

Hey, this may be a sign. You will have a wonderful day today. You may achieve one of your 1 million goals.

And indeed, it was a wonderful day. I felt happier.

It’s easy to forget the power of the little things in our rush to chase after big goals and accomplishments. But taking time to savor the small moments is essential to living a happy and fulfilled life.

A definition of happiness: what does it mean to be truly happy?

Happiness is a state of well-being and contentment. It is a positive emotion linked to good health, longevity, and overall life satisfaction.

Everyone has different ideas about what happiness means to them. While happiness is subjective and can differ from person to person, there are some common factors that contribute to happiness, such as strong relationships, meaningful work, and a sense of purpose. For some people, it may be a life without pain or worry. For others, it may be a life filled with love and joy. However, happiness is not simply a destination. It is also a journey. The key to happiness is finding what works for you and making the most of it.

Happiness does not always come in big packages. It is often the little things in life that bring the most joy. A child’s laughter, a sunny day, a good cup of coffee, or a phone call from a friend can all be tiny moments that bring joy to our lives. We should all appreciate the simple things that make us happy. Life is too short to focus on only the big stuff.

I Volunteer at a private school for kids. As an incentive to do good deeds, children are given class dollars. They get them when they go above and beyond what is expected of them. Then once a month, they can redeem them at the goodies desk. So this one little kid came to the goodies’ desk. He was around 5 years old. He told me that he had been collecting dollars for many months, and now he wanted to redeem them. He chose a beautiful scarf. But he was a few dollars short for it.

I was surprised by his choice and asked him why he chose a scarf when he could get a ball or a water gun. He had enough money for those. He replied that mother’s day was coming and he wanted to gift something to his mother. Coming from a 5 years old boy, I thought this was something so sweet and special. It was truly above and beyond. I generously handed him class dollars for this thought.

His face lit up, and I saw what happiness truly was. He was able to buy the scarf for his mother. That little kid taught me happiness is in giving.

So what are the main components of happiness?

The two most significant components of happiness are:

1. More Positive Emotions than Negative ones

The ability to have more positive emotions than negative ones is a component of happiness. This means that individuals who maintain this balance are more likely to be happy overall.

2. Life Satisfaction

Life satisfaction is basically how content you are with your life as a whole. It considers your relationships, work, achievements, and other things that you consider essential.

So if you’re satisfied with your life, you will likely be happier overall. Of course, other factors contribute to happiness, but life satisfaction is definitely one of them.

The good thing is you can cultivate happiness

Happiness can be cultivated through planned activities. There are many things people can do to become happier, and some of these things may surprise you. For example, did you know that expressing gratitude can increase your happiness? Or that meditation can help you to focus on the present moment and find joy in everyday activities? So how can you cultivate happiness?

1. Ditch the extrinsic goals- focus on what really matters

One of the best ways to cultivate happiness is to follow your intrinsic goals. These are the goals that are important to you for their own sake, not because they will lead to something else. When you focus on pursuing your passions, you’ll naturally start to feel more contentment and joy. Intrinsic goals include writing a story, reading a book, painting a picture, etc.

2. Happiness is in the moment. Enjoy it!

Mindlessly accumulating possessions is a common trap people fall into in pursuing happiness. Research has shown that material possessions can actually lead to decreased happiness. This is because people who focus on acquiring things tend to compare themselves to others and feel less satisfied with what they have.

Instead of mindlessly accumulating, focus on enjoying the moment and practicing gratitude. These activities have been shown to increase levels of happiness. So next time you find yourself in the pursuit of happiness, remember to enjoy the journey and appreciate what you already have.

3. Transform your thinking

People tend to pay more attention to bad things than good things. This is called the negativity bias, and it’s one of the reasons why people are more likely to remember negative experiences than positive ones. To counteract this tendency, make an effort to focus on the good things and reframe the negative thoughts into positive ones.

So if you want to be happier, you should focus on cultivating strong relationships, getting regular exercise, showing gratitude, and finding a sense of purpose. These are all things you have control over, and you can improve your happiness by making an effort in these areas. So take the time to invest in your relationships, health, and joy; it will pay off in the long run.

Excited to share my work with you! I hope it provides some helpful insights. Follow me to keep up with new posts.

if you haven’t already read what I wrote on days 6–8 of my writing challenge you can check it out here: